#cog fog

My name is Becca, I’m a queer, disabled, Irish content creator who has basically no idea what they’re doing 97% of the time (wooo cog fog!)

I stream on Twitch where we raise money for charities and help educate others on the LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities! 🥰

My other socials: beacons.ai/beccabeckery

Oh my goodness, do I feel you there. 

On peak brain fog days I’ve gone into stores and completely forgotten what I went in there for, what I’d find in each aisles, where to go, etc. I’ve gotten so frustrated that I’ve left without buying what I need. I use GPS almost everywhere I have to drive, and memory issues still make that pretty tough/occasionally dangerous for me. Etc., etc., etc.... you know how it goes. My brain fog got even worse on gabapentin (the only thing that’s ever significantly helped my pain) so much so that I had to stop taking it because I was getting lost and forgetting where I was supposed to go/what time of day it was while on my college campus.

It can be so frustrating because right now, the brain fog is a secondary symptom that there’s not really any way to treat (that I’m aware of) so a lot of doctors just kind of ignore it when you mention it. 

Good things about this? 1) you’re not alone, 2) not all days will be as bad as the Super Forgetful Days, and 3) there are some ways to accommodate it/make dealing with the forgetfulness easier. The reminders/notes you listed are great. I use directions to drive places. When possible, I like to go to stores with a friend or family member, because it’s easier to stay on track that way. 

And when I get super frustrated about my brain fog/memory issues, there’s always dozens of spoonies on tumblr who can relate. There’s spoonie-specific memes that make me laugh (and sometimes even help me remember to take my meds). There’s tips I come across that haven’t occurred to me before. We’re a pretty resilient community committed to growing and accommodating for ourselves, since we are often our best (and sometimes only) allies. 

Yesterday was Chemo day for humom, so I made sure to be a good #ESA and get up early to give her silly side eyes, let her watch me climb my log, and of course to give her a big snuggle before she left. She always says it makes the day a million times better. 

Today’s noms were pretty late but I went ahead and gave her a pass since she needed her rest. In the meantime, I made sure I spread all of yesterdays leftover around in fun patterns so she’d have something pretty to look at when she finally got up. I think she really appreciated that part the most. 

Thank you for showing me how little the country cares about my survival. Our blood is on your hands. We will remember this and we will use our last breath to VOTE in 2018.  #AHCA